Responsibility of Parents

In this part of the sermon: Martin pivots to the specific responsibility of parents, stating it is to 'nurture' their children. He clarifies that 'fathers' in the text includes mothers, emphasizing their…

Martin uses the story from 2 Samuel 12, where Nathan tells David about a rich man who stole a poor man's only lamb, to illustrate the meaning of 'nurture' (ektrefō) as providing everything necessary for growth and development in a context of intelligent love and concern.

We read in this parable that Nathan gives to David seeking to find a chink in the armor of hardness and insensitivity that David had put upon himself after his sin with Bathsheba and in the murder of Uriah. Verse 1 of 2 Samuel 12. The Lord sent Nathan unto David, and he came to him and said unto him, There were two men in one city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought, and here's our word, and nourished up, and had nurtured,

25:00 - 25:43 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The first aspect of nurture is its climate, which must not provoke children to wrath or discouragement. Martin warns against unreasonable demands, partiality, hypocrisy, and undue…

Illustrates unreasonable demands by describing a parent telling a two-year-old to jump over a three-foot bar, showing how such demands can lead to anger or discouragement in a child.

that provokes unnecessary anger and that takes the spirit out of our children. It is not to be a climate of unreasonable demands. Few things will dispirit a child more quickly or provoke to irritation and anger than when unreasonable demands are made upon the child. When the child's child knows that he or she is doing all within his or her power at the present level of development and simply cannot do what is demanded.

30:33 - 31:08 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The first aspect of nurture is its climate, which must not provoke children to wrath or discouragement. Martin warns against unreasonable demands, partiality, hypocrisy, and undue…

Highlights hypocrisy by contrasting a parent demanding discipline in exercise and eating from their children while being a sedentary 'couch potato' themselves, provoking children to anger.

Demand of them what you won't do. You sit there as a couch potato piling on the pounds, wheezing like an old pack horse when you go out to play with your kids and you tell them you've got to be disciplined with your eating, disciplined with your exercise, disciplined in your...

32:12 - 32:28 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The first aspect of nurture is its climate, which must not provoke children to wrath or discouragement. Martin warns against unreasonable demands, partiality, hypocrisy, and undue…

Uses the analogy of a dog to distinguish between mastering a child's will (obedience to authority) and breaking their spirit (crushing their vitality and joy), advocating for the former while avoiding the latter.

And they know when you've gone beyond what is deserved. You see, it's one thing to master the will of a child. It's another thing to break their spirit. You know the difference, don't you?

33:17 - 33:29 Read in full sermon

Driving home: the whole educational nurturing process is to be found in a setting in a context that can be described of the Lord

Martin recounts his mother's instruction to scrub a corner of the floor, telling him 'God sees the corner,' to illustrate how nurture should be 'of the Lord,' integrating God's perspective into everyday tasks.

the floor and says, son, this scrub brush does not get into the corner, but God sees the corner. Wrap the rag around your finger and dig the dirt out of the corner. That was nurture that was of the Lord. You see? She didn't detach the dirt in the corner from

50:01 - 50:25 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The entire nurturing process must be 'of the Lord.' Martin quotes Charles Hodges, emphasizing that God, not the parent, must be the ultimate authority and source of truth. He…

Martin shares a personal anecdote where his parents disciplined him for cursing, connecting the outward sin to an inward 'dirty heart' and bringing the gospel to bear on his nurture.

I'm not talking about the times when my mom and dad sat me down after everyone went to bed. The neighbors had squealed on me. Think of it, kids. I was brought up in a time when your neighbors squealed, your parents believed your neighbor and whomped you behind until you told the truth, and then when you told what you did, they whomped you for doing it.

50:44 - 51:00 Read in full sermon

The point: The means employed to fulfill any specific aspect of nurture is a matter of parental judgment within biblical principles and God's providence.

Illustrates parental judgment in seeking external help by describing parents investigating a child's unexplained physical issues, potentially consulting a nutritionist, as part of their stewardship.

Now, part of that nurture is a matter of liberty and parental judgment within the orbit of the principles of the word and the particulars of God's providence. For example, you want to nurture your children. One of them shows a chronic physical problem. Standard medical tests reveal nothing.

55:49 - 56:15 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not engage in sinful judgment or carnal competition with other parents regarding their choices in nurturing their children.

Uses the example of parents hiring musicians or enrolling children in music classes to develop artistic talent, showing how employing external means fulfills the parental mandate without relinquishing responsibility.

To nurture them physically. You may secure the health of an accomplished musician or group of musicians to develop an aesthetic and an artistic talent in your child to learn to play the piano, the violin. They may join a Yamaha class. What are you doing?

57:21 - 57:37 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin applies these principles to parents, asserting that nurturing children is their non-delegable responsibility, not that of the state or church. He clarifies that using…

Martin observes the unhealthy tendency for homeschoolers to hope secular school kids fail, or for Christian school advocates to hope homeschoolers are 'social wackos,' to prove their own method superior, warning against such judgmentalism.

Let's not stand in judgment of one another. Let's not have carnal competition or irritating friction. I want to get specific. There are times when I have been in the presence, thankfully none here, I can say that honestly, but I've been in the presence of homeschoolers who I discern almost hope that people who use a Christian school and who use a secular school, that their kids will actually turn out rotten so they can prove their case.

60:01 - 60:27 Read in full sermon

The point: Children should understand that their parents' persistent instruction and discipline are motivated by God's command to nurture them.

Illustrates parental persistence in teaching children basic rules (like putting socks in the hamper) by describing a mother repeatedly correcting her son, explaining it as part of the 'nurture of the Lord.'

You ever wonder why they do that? Mom takes you by the ear and says, son, your socks don't belong on the floor, your dirty underwear belongs in the hamper, put them there. Lo and behold, the next morning you go out for school, she's got to take you by the ear. Why does she do that?

62:14 - 62:30 Read in full sermon

The point: Children should understand that their parents' persistent instruction and discipline are motivated by God's command to nurture them.

Uses the example of teaching children how to answer the phone respectfully ('Hello, this is Johnny speaking') as a form of nurture that teaches honoring and respecting others, reflecting God's desire for us to honor one another.

You don't say, hello. You answer it this way. Hello, this is Johnny speaking. Who is speaking?

62:43 - 62:49 Read in full sermon